To get around, the primary mode of transportation is bicycles. In fact, city dwellers may find it unsettling that there are no cars on the island.
Pulau Ketam has a predominantly Chinese community, and conversations with locals will reveal that many of the young people have left for bigger cities.
And yet, those who remain have interesting stories to tell. One of them is 77-year-old Ng Hee, who arrived on the island as a young bride more than 50 years ago.
“I am from Klang, but I came here after I married my husband when I was 22,” she told FMT.
For visitors, it might seem like time has stood still in this place. But Ng insists the island today is a far cry from what it was when she first arrived.
“Back then, the houses had attap roofs and the place wasn’t as pretty,” she said.
Her husband ran his father’s shop selling vegetables, and Ng joined him. Then tragedy struck: he was involved in a boating accident and passed away at age 37. She was only three years older.
Despite her grief, Ng knew she had to be strong for eight children – seven girls and one boy. To support her family, she began selling nasi lemak and chee cheong fun at the shop.
The hours were long and the days difficult. “I woke up as early as 5am and worked late into the night,” she recalled.
Decades later, Ng is happy to see her children doing well. “I have more than 20 grandchildren,” she shared proudly.
Her only son, Ong Kok San, has since taken over the family shop. To keep herself active, the sprightly Ng sells ice kacang on weekends.
This Lunar New Year, she looks forward to having her entire family back with her. “I won’t be selling ABC this weekend as I want to spend time with them.
“As for my Chinese New Year wish? I just want to see them happy,” she said with a contented smile.
‘More festive back then’
Today, Kok San no longer sells vegetables or food at his family’s shop: to keep up with the times, he now sells various telecommunication accessories, as well as newspapers and cigarettes.
“But even our newspaper subscriptions are declining,” the 50-year-old told FMT. “Back then, I would deliver at least 300 newspapers a day. These days, it has dwindled to approximately 50.
“Most of the residents who read these newspapers are older; the younger ones prefer going online. Over time, as the older ones passed away, subscriptions have also reduced.”
Reminiscing about how New Year celebrations on the island used to be more festive, he posited that this was because those who moved away would return to spend time with their families.
“But after their parents passed away, they don’t come back anymore,” he said.
Before leaving to make his newspaper deliveries – a charming sight on his bicycle as he donned a straw hat – Kok San added: “My Chinese New Year wish is simply to be healthy because that is important.”
Good fortune
Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Ci Yi, Kok San’s 21-year-old son, helps out at the family shop and cheerfully attends to customers’ queries about their phones.
Just like any young person, he is eager to meet up with his friends who have left the island but are returning home for the festive season.
“When I am not spending time with my family, my friends and I hang out and catch up over a meal,” he told FMT.
He concurs with his father that Chinese New Year celebrations on the island aren’t as festive as they used to be. “Many young people have left the place, so less fireworks can be heard,” he said in reflection.
While his grandmother hopes to see her kin happy and his father desires good health, he shared his wish for the Lunar New Year: “I want good fortune, of course. After all, with good fortune, life will be well.”